Vote to Send Dorothée and Mark to Peru as Hessnatur Ambassadors!

Eco-friendly clothing company Hessnatur is inviting a two-person team to spend three weeks in Peru visiting their organic cotton and alpaca farms, clothing production sites and becoming acquainted with the local people, land and the culture.

We'd like to invite you on this adventure where we'll trace Hessnatur's clothing back to the source. But first, we need your help to get there! Please vote for us to be Hessnatur's ambassadors to Peru and we promise to provide engaging blog posts, video updates and candid photos from our journey.

How to vote:

1) Click on this link

2) Submit your name, email and a 5-star rating. Feel free to leave a comment as well.

3) Click on the link in the confirmation email form Hessnatur (otherwise your vote won't count!)

Help spread the word:

1) Tweet the following message: Please vote to send @OrganicNation's Dorothee & Mark to Peru as @hessnatur ambassadors: http://ht.ly/21fl0 #green #organic #ecofashion

2) Share this link on your Facebook page

Thanks so much for voting for us and we'll see you in Peru!

– Dorothée and Mark

Come Out and Play! Summer Eco-Fashion

On Mark: organic cotton tee by hessnatur, organic cotton jeans by hessnatur, Carwalk sneakers by Simple Shoes. On Dorothée: hemp and organic cotton tank by hessnatur, beylah skirt by sublet, vintage belt, vintage scarf

The first day of summer is next week and we got ready for the season by playing dress-up in organic and eco-friendly clothes from some of our favorite brands including hessnatur, Simple Shoes, sublet and NAU.

The guerrilla photo shoot took place on the unused Bloomingdale rail line that cuts through the Humbolt Park neighborhood of Chicago (for more about plans to convert this elevated track into a multi-use park, check out Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail).

On Dorothée: organic cotton tank by hessnatur, organic cotton scarf by hessnatur, organic cotton skirt by hessnatur, Pinwheel sneakers by Simple Shoes, bullet casing necklace by The MoonTree Boutique

On Mark: organic cotton shirt (Sea Weed Checked) by hessnatur, organic cotton jeans by hessnatur, Carwalk high-top sneakers by Simple Shoes

On Dorothée: silk and organic cotton top by hessnatur, vintage belt

On Dorothée: linen/new wool jacket by hessnatur, beylah skirt by sublet, fluent tote by NAU

On Mark: organic cotton tee by hessnatur, organic cotton jeans by hessnatur, Carwalk sneakers by Simple Shoes. On Dorothée: hemp and organic cotton tank by hessnatur, beylah skirt by sublet, vintage belt, vintage scarf

We wish you a summer filled with sun, outdoor adventures and fabulous eco-fashion!

-Dorothée & Mark

Organic Pick of the Week: Hessnatur

In 1976, German naturalist Heinz Hess asked a simple question, “how do you balance the desire for fashion with a commitment to nature?” He went on to become a true pioneer of sustainable and socially-conscious clothing by founding the clothing company hessnatur. These days the brand is continuing the legacy of making high-quality organic, fair trade and humanely produced clothing.

Hessnatur operates under a simple principle: human beings should live in harmony with each other and with nature. They pride themselves on having a transparent "textile chain" which means you can trace everything from the way the fibers are grown, to how the fabrics are woven, dyed, sewn and packaged.

The hessnatur website provides a specific list of what their clothing is made of:

• Pure, natural fibers – organic whenever possible. Made from renewable resources: Vegetable (cotton, linen, hemp, ramie); Animal (wool, specialty wools such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak; silk).

• No PVC or Teflon®, anywhere.

• Natural materials for buttons, like ivory palm nut, wood, horn, or mother-of-pearl

• Trims and linings are made from natural fibers, usually 100% organic cotton or 100% natural silk

• Any metals used for zippers, buckles and buttons are nickel- and chrome-free.  Other materials are only used for these accessories in the rare cases when natural materials or metals are not functional enough.

• Our only exceptions: we sometimes use up to 8% of spandex (elastic) for the stretch in some lingerie and socks. All the spandex we use is covered in cotton so no synthetic touches your skin.

• Cotton grown without any synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or defoliants and grown from seeds that have not been genetically modified

• Cotton grown in crop rotation on land that has been farmed chemical-free for at least 3 years, leaving healthy, nutrient-rich soil

• Organic wool comes from free-roaming sheep, raised on sustainably managed farms. Sheep are not given any unnatural feed or hormones, and are not treated with pesticides or antibiotics, except in cases of extreme illness.

In my opinion, what sets hessnatur apart from even the most well-meaning eco-fashion brands is their strong commitment to the health and well-being of the people involved with their clothing production. In 2002, hessnatur's Clean Clothes Campaign set the standard for humane labor conditions by developing an innovative system for control and inspection that ensures humane labor practices. In 2005, hessnatur was the first German company to be certified by the FairWear organization. They were also the first certified B Corporation in the European Union, a distinction is awarded to corporations that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

And to top it all off, hessnatur clothing looks great and feels amazing to wear. Mark and I have been sporting items from their Spring/Summer 2010 line (photos of our favorites coming soon) and we love how soft and breathable the fabric is. Be sure to check out the Hessnatur blog and stay up to date with their latest news via Twitter and Facebook.

-Dorothée

Full Disclosure: Hessnatur is one of the fabulous eco-fashion brands that have partnered with us for our Southwest Tour.